A Study of the Neurotoxicity of Streptoduocin on Tuberculous Patients

¹ The Philadelphia General Hospital, Northern Division, Department of Diseases of the Chest and the Rush Hospital.

The value of the streptomycin group of drugs as the therapy of choice in the treatment of tuberculosis has been well established, in combination with INH and/or PAS. The toxic effects on the vestibular and cochlear organs have somewhat restricted its use and limited it's effectiveness. The incidence of toxicity of streptomycin or dihydrostreptomycin in our study is greatest during the first four months of therapy—most marked when given daily, but still showing definite toxicity even when give twice weekly. A mixture of equal parts, that is 0.5 gram streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin—recently given the generic name of streptoduocin, by the American Medical Association, Council of Pharmacy and Chemistry, almost completely eliminated these toxic effects, without affecting their clinical value. As a result of this study, it is our feeling that streptoduocin, should be used almost exclusively, with usual supplemental drugs, instead of either streptomycin or dihydrostreptomycin. These studies are being continued and further reports will be made.